In a tight spot where a 911 call would be overkill, but you sure could use a helping hand?

You guessed it: There's an app for that.

Named WeAssist, the app was parented by DePauw University students Rajat Kumar, Michael Osborn and Tao Qian. They won a recent trip to Microsoft's annual Imagine Cup U.S. finals in Silicon Valley to demo the new product.

WeAssist allows users to share their location and send a message in a bind, such as when your car breaks down and you need a ride, or you want someone to walk you to the parking lot late at night.

There also is a way for WeAssist users to help one another by sharing requests publicly.

The app is being tested by DePauw students and in Greencastle. Plans are to launch the Windows app on other mobile platforms. It could be coming to other college campuses near you in the near future.

Getting a bite of sales

The Noblesville company aims to strike while the vending business is hot by getting its low-fat, healthy snacks into schools.

Darlington says it's hoping to see a jump in sales of its Spikerz crackers and other healthy snacks under new guidelines from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The guidelines put limits on the amount of fat, calories, sugar and sodium in foods sold in schools.

Spikerz are whole-grain crackers with no trans fat that are spiced with nacho cheese and certified kosher.

Darlington swears that its snacks are not the cardboard-like or odd-tasting fare often found under the healthy foods label. "They are snacks that kids will eat," it says.

We await the first Snickers vs. Spikerz taste test.

- Jeff Swiatek

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Biz Buzz: DePauw trio win trip to Microsoft's Imagine Cup U.S. finals

In a tight spot where a 911 call would be overkill, but you sure could use a helping hand?